# NTSB CHI82FA017: Piper PA-28, N6958T, Preston, MN, December 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 5, 1981
- Place: Preston, MN · PRESTON, MN
- Location: 43.6726° N, 92.0828° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Preston, MN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6726&lon=-92.0828&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82FA017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2797   81/12/5   PRESTON,MN          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 600
        TIME - 1720                    N6958T              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 575 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FILLMORE COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PRESTON,MN                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6958T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6958T-1983-04-06), registration cancelled 1983-04-06, S/N 28-8090157 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Fillmore County

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19811205079059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811205079059A), Dec 5, 1981: Piper PA28181, Preston, MN, Destroyed. Pilot took off at night into dense fog. Lost control of aircraft circling to base leg. Flight was to check weather.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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